Theory of radiative shocks in optically thick media

The theory of radiative shocks in optically thick media is discussed, using exact relations for the fluid dynamics quantities. A quantitative, semianalytic approach to the radiation transport is presented here, based on the observation that the mean intensity is essentially constant through the cooling layer. This permits a self-consistent three-layer solution, in which the temperature upstream of the density jump never strictly equals the final downstream temperature. The development of the diffusive structure in the precursor is not fundamentally tied to the downstream properties. Portions of the precursor may be transmissive or diffusive.